HarryEwing1

It was a poignant, emotional, low key moment at the Harry Ewing Pier when the fishing vessel Martin Paul, SO 882, Harry Ewing’s last trawler and beloved marine workhorse, departed Rosses Point on its final voyage at 2pm on Wednesday, February 14, with its new owners and crew on board.

Piloted by Harry’s son Daryl and waved on its way by Harry’s family, crew and some close friends, the vessel was escorted out past the Blackrock Lighthouse by the Elsinore, Sligo Bay’s RNLI Lifeboat, whose crew then returned Daryl to Rosses Point as the Martin Paul sailed off into the sunset.

Thirty six feet overall and built in the South of England in 1989, the vessel fished the south coast for a few years before it came into Harry’s possession. He registered the boat in Sligo in 1993 and it has given him faithful service ever since, through thick and thin, through good times and bad times and through all the sea could throw at it.

His love for the boat was apparent in the manner in which he looked after it and maintained it, a fact much appreciated by the new owners. Although there was sadness in seeing the Martin Paul depart, most people agree that the vessel has gone to a good home.

Three true Donegal-men, Rocky, Sean and Maurice, fishermen and seamen, one and all - we wish them every success and happiness with their new boat and I’m sure that Harry would be delighted to see the Martin Paul back at sea doing what it was built to do - harvesting fish off the west coast. Perhaps we might get a visit now and then in the future. God Bless her and all who sail in her!

Harry passed away at the weekend, was laid to rest in his native Rosses Point on Monday 21/08/2006

The late Mr Ewing, who was 58, had been battling cancer for some time but had been hospitalised for just a short period prior to his death in the early hours of Saturday morning.

While he was known far and wide as the owner of Harry’s Bar in Rosses Point, he was probably even better known as a seaman.It was on the water that he was most at home. A native of Rosses Point, he grew up with boats.

After learning his boat-handling skills as a youngster on all sorts of crafts in the resort, he spent a couple of years on oil tankers, before returning home again to take up fishing locally.He had a number of boats down through the years and was involved in lobster and salmon fishing

His family have connections with Rosses Point stretching back over 100 years. The Ewings were involved in the Golf Links Hotel (now the Yeats County) and the Royal Hotel, which was to become Harry’s Bar and which Harry built up into one of Sligo’s best-known pubs,having inherited it from his late father Aubrey.The family also had a shop in the village until the death of his mother a few years ago

The closure of that shop provided an illustration of the type of man he was. As it was Easter, he took all the Easter eggs in the shop and drove around to every house in the village where he knew there was a child to give them an egg.A man with a huge heart who had special time for children, the stories of his efforts to help others are as many and as legendary as those of his skill as a boatman.

He was a larger than life character in many ways, and was, as one local put it, the heart of Rosses Point and the cornerstone of the village.He was the man that people called on when they were trouble particularly on the water and he always responded whether it was a life and death situation or simply a boat gone adrift from its moorings.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the RNLI lifeboat station in Rosses Point, of which he was secretary and launch superintendent.But prior to that he had provided for years an unofficial lifeboat service and was involved in the rescue of many people and boats down through the years

.He was also the man that newcomers to the area were sent to seek advice about moorings, tides or anything to do with the sea or boats.He provided that advice and help with the same unconditional generosity that was such a feature of all aspects of his life.

The large turnout for his funeral service yesterday at Drumcliff church and the burial in Rosses Point was an indication of the many lives he touched and the sadness felt for his wife Ruth, daughter Aishling and sons Fenton and Daryl

A Flotilla of over 30 vessels provided a unique guard of honour when the remains of Harry Ewing were brought back to Rosses Point on Saturday evening.

The line of boats of all shapes and sizes included fishing boats, ocean-going yachts, skiffs, punts and the RNLI lifeboat, with which he had such an association. It was headed by Mr Ewing’s own boat, the Martin Paul.

It was something which had never been seen before in Rosses Point and, according to one local, the like of it would never be seen again.

“The fact that so many people took the trouble to be there with their boats was an indication of how people felt about him.”

“A man who would be sorely missed by the sea faring community in Sligo and beyond” was how Sligo Harbour Master Redmond Gillen described the late Mr Ewing.

“Everybody who was involved with boats or the sea in any way knew Harry. He was extremely helpful to everyone. He was one of the most knowledgeable people about local waters. If anyone was looking for information about moorings or anything else they were always sent to Harry Ewing and he was always generous with his time and advice.”

Harry supplied the pilot boat for the port and also did contract work with Irish Lights in supplying lighthouses.

Mr Gillen said it was for his voluntary effort and advice to fishermen and sailors that he will most be remembered for.

Tributes

An extraordinary man

The entire community of Rosses Point was stunned on Saturday morning, August 19, when word of Harry Ewing’s death spread through the village. Although many were aware of Harry’s illness, none of us believed or, perhaps, wanted to believe that things were so serious. Harry, showman that he was, never complained nor gave obvious signs of just how ill he was.

As thesad news was confirmed, the community had to accept that they had lost one of their best loved friends. In spite of his many talents, nobody could ever accuse Harry Ewing of having any pretensions. He got on with his life and his various enterprises just like any ordinary man, and yet there was something different about him that set him apart. Not that he obviously tried to be different, he didn’t. Maybe it was his constant good humour, his cheerful demeanour, his ability to make us laugh, the fact that he was always doing something‚ always busy, rarely complaining and still found time to help his fellow man whenever the need arose. If there was ever any truth in the saying that “if you want something done – ask a busy man!” then Harry Ewing was the proof of it.

Be it work or hobby, boats or bikes, Harry tackled them all with infectious enthusiasm. His contribution to saving lives at sea, both before and after the inauguration of the RNLI at Rosses Point, of which he was a major organiser, showed a dedication second to none. As a publican he put the word “hospitality” into the licensed trade and ran his establishment with humour and professionalism never surpassed. The respect and love fostered by Harry was reflected at his funeral, not just by the number of mourners who attended over the days, but by the many tributes paid to him and his family. The seafaring community paid a unique and unprecedented tribute on Saturday evening by meeting the cortège on the edge of the village, with a flotilla of 30 boats, from ocean-going yachts to 14-ft day boats, all flying flagsat half mast and led by Harry’s own trawler the Martin John, accompanied the hearse up to the pier.

At the funeral service in Drumcliff Church on Monday, there was a guard of honour by Harry’s colleagues in the RNLI and a motorbike escort was provided by Digger’s Bikers with Digger as outrider. They also provided the escort back to the cemetery at Rosses Point where the guard of honour was joined by a contingent of fishermen from all over the country.

The coastguard SAR helicopter did a flypast, Sligo Airport was represented by a lone Cessna which flew overhead and dipped a wing, and the MV Defender, registered in St John’s, en route to Sligo Port, gave a final salute on its foghorn as Harry was laid to rest in his native Rosses Point. I have been privileged to have known Harry over many years and his robust cheerfulness was only exceeded by his generosity, both in kind and spirit. We appreciated his respect for all men, be they surgeons or winkle pickers in off the road, Harry always had time and a kind word for them regardless. He will be greatly missed. His passing will leave a gap in the fabric of the Rosses Point community which can never be filled. Deepest sympathy is expressed to his family, Ruth, Fenton, Aisling and Daryl, his crew, Martin and Frankie, his staff, Greg, Michelle and Kelli, his ex-staff, his colleagues, his many friends ashore and afloat.

Sligo Weekender 29/08/2006

Albert Bree

Harry was the living heart of the Point

To meet Harry Ewing was to like him. I don't know anyone who didn't.

To know him was to love him, man, woman or child. This was evident in the great outpouring of grief that was his funeral.

Every tribute that could have been paid was paid, every honour shown, and rightly so. The motorbike cavalcade escorted the coffin to the church, the RNLI guard of honour met it, and presented the flag in which it was draped to Ruth, his widow.

The church was packed well before this, and twice as many people stood outside, as could get inside. On the return journey, the long cortege of people and cars was escorted by Harry's own boat, the rescue helicopter, with a flag lowered at half mast, a plane did a fly past, and even the passing ship blew its horn as a mark of respect.

Harry was the living, beating heart of Rosses Point, and what a big, warm heart it was Harry never sought greatness, but it was thrust upon him.

In matters to do with the sea and fishing, he was the absolute authority, because of his level of knowledge and experience. He was just as comprehensively consulted over matters to do with village. His unassuming wisdom, common sense and instinct for what was, or was not appropriate in any situation made his counsel invaluable.

Harry's involvement in the RNLI, and his own rescue record before the lifeboat station here at Rosses Point came in to being, are well known. However, it wasn't necessary to be in trouble at sea to command his instant attention and his help.

Anybody who was in trouble of any kind knew they could go to him, without fear of being refused. Just knowing he was around made us all feel more secure. Often, it wasn't necessary to go to him at all, he came to you, if he heard anything was wrong, and quietly helped out.

In the time between his death, and the funeral, the whole village sat around in shock, not knowing what to do with ourselves. What we did was get together, and talk about Harry Ewing, and as the stories of his many kindnesses, which emerged then grew from a trickle to a flood, we began to realise the full extent of our loss.

He will be missed greatly for his laugh. It was loud, infectious, wicked and frequent. His sense of fun and mischief was irrepressible.

The pub was home to a mad collection of hats and helmets, any of which he would wear as the mood took him. He enjoyed fancy dress, and was unforgettable as Elvis!

Harry loved to dance. His style was energetic, erratic, and liable to clear the floor, but always exciting, for spectators and partners!

Harry took life by the throat, and lived it to the utmost. He faced death with courage and dignity. In life and death, he will remain an inspiration to all who knew him. The example he set for the rest of us will take some living up to.

This morning, I put on my new pirate scarf, scattered 'with skull and cross bones. I smiled as I thought of Harry. If I had worn it into the pub, he would have whipped it off me, tied it round his head, and roared off, looking for people to yell "Yo ho ho!" at, and when he had lit up the pub with his own enjoyment, returned it, along with a glass of whisky.

When the tears pass, the memories will be warm and wonderful. Rest in peace, Harry. You deserve it.

SligoWeekender

Carol Wilson

My first visit to Harry's

Like many other tourists before me Harry introduced me to Captain Morgan - a facinating conversationalist of renown!

Captain Morgan was protesting to me that he had just been evicted, because Carol had taken his perch and was busy sketching the clientele.

Slowly hearing of The Captian's dissasterous state of affairs there was a 'pouring ' of sympathy, whiskey and good cheer.

A small crowd had gathered and to much ammusment we all chirrped along to Captain Mogan's whistles!

Captain Morgan fell asleep on my shoulder, and Harry put him to bed in the penthouse.

He had a way with nature, a man truly in touch with the earth.

WebMa

Rossespoint Net webquarters

29/08/2006

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